Dog-muzzle.



- A. J. BRAUER.

, DOG MUZZLE. APILIOATION FILED MAY 27, 1912.

Patented July 29,1913.

PATENT ormon.

ARTHUR J. BRAUER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DOG-MUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1913.

Application filed May 27, 1912. Serial No. 700,007.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. BRAUER, a

I citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inDog-Muzzles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. i This invention relates to dogmuzzles. One object of my invention is to provide a flexible or pliabledog muzzle that conforms to the shape of a dogs head so that it can befastened securely in position without binding the head of the dog.

Another object is to provide a dog muzzle which is so constructed thatit does not prevent the dog from raising or lifting its head freely.

Another object is to provide a dog muzzle formed from leather or someother suitable pliable material, and constructed in such a manner thatthe dog cannot pull it off. And

still another object is to provide an efficient dog muzzle which is sodesigned that it does not prevent the dog from drinking when the muzzleis arranged in operative position. Other objects andv desirable featuresof my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a dog muzzleconstructed in accord ance with my invention; Fig. 2 is an end view orfrontelevational view of the muzzle; and Fig. 3 is a detail sectionalview illustrating how the straps or members from which the muzzle isformed are connected together.

The muzzle is preferably constructed of straps of leather or othersuitable flexible material, the parts being attached together withrivets. Referring to the accompanying drawing, A designates a collar orstrap adapted to encircle the neck of a dog. A pair of side straps C areattached to the collar at the sides thereof. These side straps arepreferably formed of a single piece of leather which extends forwardlyalong the sides of the head and around the nose. A top strap B isconnected at one end to the collar at the upper side thereof and extendsforwardly along the head and over the nose.

The other end of the top strap is attached to the side straps C at apoint in front of the nose when the muzzle is in position. The end ofthe top strap therefore terminates at the point where it is attached tothe side straps. A jaw strap D passes around and crosses below the jawsand is riveted to the side and top straps. The ends D of the jaw strapextend diagonally and rearwardly and cross under the jaw, and these endsare ac tached to the side straps G. at points removed from the points ofattachment of these side straps to the collar. A rivet 2 secures theends of the aw strap together at their crossing point under the jaw. Anose guard E consisting of a single piece of material encircles the noseforwardly of the jaw strap D and is riveted to the side and top straps Cand B. This nose guard is provided with an integral shank 3 extendingrearwardly underneath the jaw and secured to the jaw straps at itscrossing point by means of the rivet 2. The collar is provided with abuckle 4, a ring 5 and also with the usual license tag as shown inFig. 1. The side and top straps are attached to the collar throughbuckles 7, and these buckles are attached to the collar by rivets 6,whereby these straps may be readily unbuckled from the collar oradjusted in length. The muzzle is molded to shape so that it will neatlyfit the dogs head and retain its shape after it is in position.

A dog muzzle must be so arranged that the dog can drink and breathe andstill prevent it from opening its mouth wide enough to bite. It shouldbe so constructed that the dog can readily move its head vertically andat the same time prevent it from removing the muzzle with its paws. Itshould conform to the head so as to present a neat appearance, but itshould consist of a few parts so as to form a skeleton structure and nota close covering which will be hot, uncomfortable and cause irritationduring hot weather.

The muzzle described will meet all the requirements and conditionsoutlined above. When the muzzle is in position on the dogs head thecollar will encircle the neck while the side straps will extend alongthe sides of the head above the lower jaw. The parts are so adjustedthat the muzzle will fit snug. The top strap extends centrally along thehead and centrally over the nose so as not to interfere with freebreathing. The nose guard is so formed, and .the top strap terminates atsuch a point that an opening E is formed, so that while the dog cannotopen its mouth wide enough to bite, it can drink and hang out its tonguefor free perspiration.

The usual throat strap, which extends underneath the throat and isconnected with the collar and which prevents the dog from freely raisingand lowering its head, is dispensed with. The jaw strap together withits diagonal connections with the side straps performs the function ofthe fonner throat strap in retaining the muzzle in position. The ends ofthis jaw strap extend rearwardly and diagonally and are connected to'the side straps so that there is a diagonal strain placed on the ends ofthe jaw straps to prevent the muzzle from being pulled off. Theconstruction however is such as to leave the throat entirely free topermit free. breathing and swallowing. The connections,

of the side straps to the collar through the rivets 6 are loose enoughto permit a vertical pivotal movement of these side straps on thecollar. The entire forward part of the muz-,

zle can therefore swing on the collar as a pivot when the dog raises andlowers its head. This is important as the points of' articulation of adogs head are directly behind its ears and therefore opposite thepivotal points of connection of the forward: The construction andarrangement of the noseguard is such that while it will permit the partof the muzzle with the collar.

dog to drink it will still prevent it from opening its jaws wide enoughto bite. The nose guard is entirely smooth so as not to irritate thedog. The connection of the shank 3 with the jaw straps is such as tohold this nose guard in position and in shape. The entire arrangement ofthe straps is such as not only to permit free vertical movement but alsoto retain the shape of the muzzle, as the strains are applied andtransmitted evenly and uniformly.

having their heads on the inside and having smooth riveted ends as shownin Fig. 3,

thereby avoiding irritation and presenting a neat appearance.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

strap encircling the neck, a side strap attached at its ends to saidcollar at the sides thereof and extending forwardly along the sides ofthe head and around the nose, a top strap attached to said collar at thetop thereof and extending forwardly along the upper side of the head andover the nose and terminating at and attached at its end to said sidestrap, and a jaw strap passing around and crossing below the jaws andattached to said side and top straps, the ends of said jaw strap passingfrom their crossing point diagonally and rearwardly to said side strapand being attached thereto.

2. A dog muzzle comprising a collar or.

strap encircling the neck, side straps pivotally attached to said collarat the sides thereof and extending forwardly along the sides of thehead, a top strap attached at itsend to said collar at the top thereofand extending forwardly along the upper side of the head, and a jawstrap passing around and crossing below the jaws and attached to saidside and top straps, the ends of said jaw strap passing from theircrossing point diagonally and rearwardly to said side straps and beingattached thereto.

4:. A dog muzzle comprising a collar,side straps connected to saidcollar and extending forwardly along the head, a, jaw strap passingaround the jaw and connected to said side straps, and a nose guardencircling the nose and attached to said side straps, said guard havinga shank integral therewith and extending rearwardly under the jaw andconnected to said jaw strap.

5. A dog muzzle comprising a collar or strap encircling the neck, sidestraps attached to said collar at the sides thereof and extendingforwardly along the sides of the head, a top strap attached to saidcollar The muzzle can be readily adjusted by the buckle connections 7and the forward part at the top thereof and extending forwardly alongthe upper side of the head, a jaw strap passing around and crossingbelow the jaws and attached to said side and top straps, the ends ofsaid jaw strap passing from their crossing point diagonally andrearwardly to said side straps and being attached thereto, and a noseguard encircling the nose and attached to said side and top straps, saidguard having a shank integral therewith and extending rearwardly underthe jaw I and attached to said jaw strap. 1. A .dog muzzle comprising acollar or= 6. A dog muzzle comprising a collar, side and top strapsextending along the sides and signature in the presence of twowitnesses, top 0f1 the fiea d togetiher withda, jawdstradp thistwenty-fourth day of May 1912. encirc 111 t e aw an attac e to szu si eand top strap and means for detachably ARTHUR BRAUER' 5 connecting theends of said side and top Witnesses:

straps with said collar. 7 WELLs L. CHURCH, In testimony whereof Ihereunto aifix my GEORGE BAKEWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained'for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

